Thursday > Thursday Vespers
1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou
understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted
with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou
knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon
me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot
attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from
thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in
hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall
hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night
shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth
as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my
mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret,
and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in
thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were
fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is
the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me
therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take
thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I
grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my
thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting.
1 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the
violent man;
2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they
gathered together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison
is under their lips. Selah.
4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from
the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a
net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
6 I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my
supplications, O LORD.
7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered
my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his
wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief
of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the
fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall
hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and the right of the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the
upright shall dwell in thy presence.
1 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my
voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the
lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works
with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him
reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my
head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall
hear my words; for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one
cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my
trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the
gins of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal
escape.